(First Page) prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 next (Last Page)
|
Posted on August 5, 2010 - 16:33 PM |
Aug 05, 2010 By Jessica Tang
Courtesy of UCLA Today
Roughly 5,000 U.S. military service members in hostile regions around the world will soon be receiving care packages in the mail containing a little music, Joe Bruin’s favorite apparel and a lot of gratitude, compliments of UCLA’s new freshman class.
An incoming first-year student packages UCLA apparel, an iTunes gift card and a handwritten letter for U.S. military service members.
As a powerful introduction to UCLA’s commitment to volunteerism, incoming first-year students are assembling Bruin care packages destined for U.S. service members that contain UCLA apparel, iTunes gift cards and letters students have written to express their appreciation for the invaluable service these men and women are providing.
“I’m glad to have the opportunity to take part and show my appreciation to the troops since I haven’t had the chance to do so on my own,” said Karen Lively, an incoming comparative literature major, who was part of an assembly line putting together the packages. “It’s a good introduction to service at UCLA, especially in discovering new ways to give back to the community.”
Part of the new student orientation, the program was organized by the UCLA Volunteer Center and UCLA Summer Orientation Program in partnership with Operation Gratitude, a volunteer-run, nonprofit group based in Van Nuys that has sent more than 500,000 care packages to troops all over the world. It is the first time that Operation Gratitude has partnered with a university on this scale, said David Bloome, campaign director for the Volunteer Center.
Following up on last year’s highly successful Volunteer Day in the first week of the fall quarter, the center wanted to expand on ways to instill a culture of volunteerism with students’ very first exposure to UCLA, organizers said. This fall’s Volunteer Day will be held on Sept. 21.
“The volunteer center is bridging different parts of the campus to make an impact as broadly and deeply as possible,” said Antoinette Mongelli, executive director of the center.
Carolyn Blashek, founder of Operation Gratitude, was on hand Aug. 3 as new freshmen formed an assembly line to put together the packets. “It’s a special situation since many of the students are the same age as the service men and women to whom they are writing,” she said. And receiving Bruin apparel “should be entertaining and energizing,” unless, of course, a troop member identifies more strongly with UCLA’s crosstown rival.
Good timing played a role in obtaining $125,000 worth of in-kind gifts. Bloome contacted ASUCLA licensing director Cynthia Holmes who referred him to Campus Drive, a Montana-based apparel company that is a UCLA collegiate licensee.
Jason Davenport, ROTC instructor at UCLA, looks on as freshman write personal letters in hopes of boosting service members' morale.
“It was a miracle — the company just happened to have excess UCLA-branded garments they were looking to donate at the exact time we needed it. The president of Campus Drive, Jeff Selvig, even transported the clothing to ASUCLA for us. His generosity was stunning,” Bloome said. In addition, Apple donated $20 iTunes gift cards to package with the apparel.
During opening ceremonies for this summer’s orientation, Bloome addressed students and sparked their interest in becoming a community of heroes.
While many of the incoming students have already been involved in volunteering at their high schools, Bloome said participating in Operation Gratitude “sets an expectation for new students to be participant citizens, leaders and heroes. It’s a fun part of an overall strategy to build active community volunteerism and turn actions into deeds.”
“Dear U.S. Hero,” one student wrote as an opening. Others wrote about their excitement at being at UCLA and shared their favorite sports and hobbies. “It’s almost like writing to a pen pal for them,” said Edwin Luna, an orientation counselor.
“The notes the students have written seem very detailed and positive,” said Roxanne Neal, director of the UCLA New Student and Transition Programs. “One student even carried around a soccer ball all day just to donate it with his package.”
ROTC members, including Juan Bustamante, an active-duty Marine currently studying geography at UCLA, talked to students about how receiving care packages affected him and other service members. “Mail call is always a good day,” he said. “I’ve gotten Girl Scout cookies and beef jerky in the past, but not clothing. It’s a good motivation for people.”
The three organizations hope to partner again next year, after seeing the impact that personal letters written by UCLA students can bring. Some soldiers don’t get mail, and that might affect their outlook, Blashek said. “Your letters could save someone’s life.”
For more information, see the Volunteer Center’s Orientation website. For more information about Operation Gratitude, see this website. |
Posted on July 21, 2010 - 14:09 PM |
MYRTLE BEACH - A Fort Bragg soldier just back from Afghanistan is anxiously awaiting the day he gets the Harley Davidson motorcycle that matches the keys he found in a care package.
Army Staff Sergeant Michael Fullerton, with 82nd Division Special Troops Battalion is one of two soldiers who found Harley Davidson keys in care packages from the States.
Fullerton will receive his Harley Sportster in a Presentation Ceremony on Friday, July 23, 2010.
The ceremony is to take place at 12:30 pm at the Hall of Heroes, which is located at The Rawcliffe Conference Center, 201 75th Ave North, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
The bikes were donated by Lee Rawcliffe, owner of Sands Resorts and Don Allen, CEO of American Veterans Traveling Tribute to show their appreciation to the men and women serving in the U.S. military.
They asked Operation Gratitude to assist in the random selection of two soldiers.
Operation Gratitude, a non-profit organization that puts together care packages for soldiers, dropped the keys into 2 random, unmarked care packages.
What a surprise when Fullerton and US Army Sergeant William Herne, an infantryman with the 82nd Airborne Division, opened their care packages.
“I’m still in shock from winning so I’m a little lost for words. It’s the coolest thing I’ve received in my life,“ said Herne, a native of Addison, NY.
Fullerton, a native of Quincy, Mass. was very happy because his wife likes motorcycles and it will be a treat for her.
Herne will receive his bike when he returns from overseas this fall.
“Our purpose is to show continuous support for the Americans who protect our country,“ said Lee Rawcliffe.
In 2009, Sands Resorts dedicated Hall of Heroes, a tribute to American Heroes throughout the history of our country.
Additionally, Sands Resorts and AVTT have partnered on various projects of gratitude for Wounded Warriors and VFWs.
|
Posted on April 26, 2010 - 13:01 PM |
Runners crawl though the mud field at the first ever Merrell Down & Dirty Mud Run at Castaic Lake State Recreation Area. (Photo by David Crane/Los Angeles Daily News)
CASTAIC — For the thousands who converged on Castaic Lake early Sunday, one thing beat rolling over for an extra hour of sleep.
Slogging head to toe in mud at a first-annual Los Angeles mud run.
"We are ready for a roll in the mud," said Ellie Woods, 33, of Sherman Oaks, among some late-night delivery nurses from Valley Presbyterian Hospital queuing up at the 8 a.m. starting gate.
"Dirty is Perty," proclaimed their camouflage tank tops.
The sold-out Merrell Down & Dirty Mud Run drew 3,000 scramblers from across the Southland to the Castaic Lake State Recreation Area for 5K and 10K runs and shorter dashes for the kids.
But the real reward at the lakeside obstacle course was mud.
Participants paid $50 and up to dash through slimy tunnels. Wade through a muddy lake. Scramble over head-high hurdles.
And crawl face down through a giant mud pit while National Guardsmen yelled, "Push, push, push!"
"Been mud wrestlin'," said Elizabeth Diaz, 45, a teacher from Covina, drenched in caramel-colored slime. "Slinging mud. Scrambling though mud. I might as well be an alligator.
"And I get a beauty spot treatment - dip your body in mud. That's right, baby! I just took off five years."
The paramilitary style event, to be followed by others in Philadelphia, New York and Sacramento, included live music, a barbecue and a shot at hosing off the muck.
It also raised an estimated $30,000
for Operation Gratitude, which sends care packages and letters to front-line troops overseas.
"People go through an obstacle course and get muddy as heck for a great cause," said run announcer Tim Bomba, as wave upon wave of runners headed off to do the worm. "It's great."
Those from Operation Gratitude were overwhelmed by the muddy field maneuvers.
"I'm actually speechless, I had no idea," said Carolyn Blashek, founder of the Van Nuys charity that ships 100,000 care packages a year. "This is an operation gratitude - and an operation of so much love."
Runners from across Los Angeles drove past Six Flags Magic Mountain after learning of the event from online message boards.
"I'm a kid at heart," said Ken Lukaszonas, 34, of Lancaster, his eyelashes sticking with goo and whose two children joined in the fun.
"I still like playing in the mud."
Some wore purple tutus. Others dressed as Santa Claus or the Cat in the Hat. One bounder came dressed as Beetlejuice, while another donned sport coat, oxford shirt and tie.
"We are nuts," said Karla Helsley, 37, of Valencia, who raced an Old Orchard neighborhood group of "mud princesses" in purple-and-pink tutus and tiaras.
Manuel Ruiz, a "fairy godfather" with a hot pink boa and tiara, clenched an unlit cigar after winning a $500 prize for best costume.
"It's about supporting the troops," said Ruiz, 30, of Los Angeles, before running his first 10K. "I thought it would be funny, to come completely insane."
But the real winner could have been Laura DeSantiago, if she ever had found her muddy mate.
For DeSantiago, in a white wedding dress and veil, had run the course hoping for muddy nuptials.
"I don't have a groom," said DeSantiago, 44, of Pasadena, wielding a bride's bouquet before the starting gun. "I want a muddy husband.
"I want to kiss and hug somebody after I finish."
|
Posted on November 26, 2009 - 19:23 PM |
By Sophia Fischer sfischer@theacorn.com
Beanie Babies and Webkinz are saving lives overseas, and Oak Park High School students are lending a hand..
The school’s student council, known as the Associated Student Body, is collecting the plush toys from Mon., Nov. 30 through Fri., Dec. 4. Collection boxes will be set up throughout the campus. The public may drop off donations in the school office at 899 Kanan Road.
The stuffed toys will be brought to Operation Gratitude in Van Nuys, where they will be packed and shipped to United States soldiers serving in Afghanistan. The nonprofit sends care packages to overseas troops. Operation Gratitude has been sending the toys to troops since 2004. Soldiers have written letters of appreciation telling how the stuffed animals not only boost morale among the troops but have also saved their lives.
One Army captain wrote, “We gave that Beanie Baby to an Iraqi child who then gave us a tip. He told us that bad people were making bombs in his neighborhood. The information he gave us led to a major terrorist cell being captured and countless lives, American and Iraqi, being saved.”
Others wrote of similar incidents in which soldiers presented candy and toys to local children who then provided information on where roadside bombs were hidden.
When Oak Park High senior Steven Rich heard about the toy project he wanted to contribute. Steven and his family—parents Jonathan and Becky and sister Emily—have been Operation Gratitude volunteers since April, packing care packages.
“I have friends who are in active service; it’s a cause close to my heart,” Steven said.
He had already encouraged Oak Park’s elementary school students to write letters to troops. The letters are included in the care packages.
“When Steven said, ‘I want to do something in our community,’ we were going to just start on a small scale and ask our friends for Beanie Babies,” Becky Rich said.
She credited Shelly Resnick, the mother of Steven’s best friend Matthew, with encouraging the project to be brought to the high school.
Matthew invited Steven to give a presentation about the idea to the student council, of which Matthew is a member. The council, made up of about 40 students, was supportive of the project, Matthew said.
“We believe very strongly in our troops. We support what they’re doing 100 percent,” said Matthew, a senior. “If they’re willing to risk their lives to protect our country, we can do something to help them out.”
The council leads a number of annual schoolwide community service efforts, including food and blood drives, but this was the first time a student who is not a council member came in with an idea, said Matthew, who has known Steven since kindergarten.
The entire Rich family, including Steven’s older brother Michael and his girlfriend, will spend the day after Thanksgiving packing boxes at Operation Gratitude.
“When we worked there two weeks ago there was a 97-year-old woman who had knit 140 scarves and hats for the service men and women to stay warm. These went into the packages,” Becky Rich said. “It really choked me up.”
|
Posted on November 26, 2009 - 19:22 PM |
By Kyle-Anne Shiver
It goes without saying, of course, that all good things come from God. It is to Him, above all, that we owe our lives, our liberties and our individual pursuits of happiness on this earth.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Let it ring in glorious chorus from all over the land this Thanksgiving.
We ourselves, though, are God\'s hands on earth, His workers, His vintners, His harvesters of these our many good gifts. As all wise men and women know, God helps those who help themselves.
So, I say, if we and our families are blessed with freedom this year, then we must thank a soldier. Freedom, as the sentient saying goes, was never free. And it never will be.
Without those Americans ready to shoulder the burdens of our defenses -- most of us city-dwelling, computer-whizzing, armchair-quarterbacking, cocktail-partying, tennis-playing, lunch-doing, mall-shopping, celebrity-ogling, book-reading, podium-pontificating Americans - would be up the creek in dangerous waters without so much as a twig for a paddle.
And this year, more than most, the American citizen\'s burden of gratitude is far greater than average.
We have just suffered the first terrorist attack on our own soil since 9/11. Now, let those safely-ensconced, bubble-headed media elites go on and on all they want with their armchair psychobabble. Anyone with better than a pea-sized brain and an ounce of common sense understands exactly what happened at Ft. Hood.
It was solitary jihad. It was solitary jihad. It was solitary jihad.
" Our army\'s own top officer, General George Casey,
thinks more Ft.-Hood-type attacks would actually be better than if our troops\' \"diversity\" were to suffer:
\"Our diversity, not only in our Army, but in our country, is a strength. And as horrific as this tragedy was, if our diversity becomes a casualty, I think that\'s worse.\"
As a mother, I have to wonder whether these dimwits would be singing the same tune if the people killed were little American school children and the shooter was their bus driver, hired by a diversity chief. Perhaps in these leaders\' addled minds, soldiers are expendable pawns, not flesh-and-blood sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives.
But there you have it, dear readers. President Obama and General Casey would seem to prefer the innocent shedding of real human blood to profiling against even the self-sworn, very vocal enemies within our midst.
With friends like these...
So, this Thanksgiving, more than in any year since 9/11, I\'m writing the biggest check I possibly can to my favorite troop-support group.
Operation Gratitude says it all. It\'s not political; it\'s just plain thankfulness. Thankful for each and every man and woman, willing to lay down his or her life for the safety of all Americans. Without them, there would be no more Thanksgiving Days.
Operation Gratitude is the only troop-support organization in which every single penny donated actually goes to pay postage for care packages sent to our troops. Not one penny goes for any other expense; none goes for salaries or advertising. Thousands of pure volunteers - receiving not a penny for their time and effort - work tirelessly throughout the year to gather the donated items, which fill each package, addressed to an individual soldier or Marine in harm\'s way.
Thousands more volunteers lovingly assemble each package in Van Nuys, California and fill it to the brim with snacks, DVDs, phone cards, toiletries and anything else America\'s companies, civic groups and individuals donate to the cause. Handwritten letters and cards from real Americans go into each and every package.
But, sadly, in this age of profligate government spending, rampant with waste and fraud and political payoffs, postage for packages going to soldiers and Marines in harm\'s way is an expense our congress simply cannot abide.
They\'ll spend our money to frank their own political mail from their offices. They\'ll spend our money to build bridges to nowhere and airports with no passengers. They\'ll spend thousands of dollars each year for fresh flowers to adorn the Speaker\'s offices. They\'ll spend our money on every frivolous absurdity the mind can imagine, but they won\'t spend it to get packages to our troops in the war zones.
In this age of utter moral confusion, we can thank the Good Lord every minute of the day that some people remain on the straight and narrow and do the good that must be done. One such group of well-grounded folks is Operation Gratitude. The holiday drive is underway. It costs $11 this year to send a single package to the middle east, where most are headed.
Yes, this whole column is a thoroughly shameless, unapologetically transparent plea for money. There are scores of groups asking for it and most are worthy of every penny. But
Operation Gratitude is my favorite. It was started by a mom in her own living room with not an ounce of support from any fat-cat or bigwig. In only 6 years, it has grown to a veritable homefront army, sending not only good cheer and morale-boosting goodies to our beloved troops in harm\'s way, but enriching a grateful nation - one person at a time - in the process. So, if you possibly can, please donate to the holiday drive this year. More than ever, our troops need to know we love them and appreciate them and honor them -- with all our hearts and souls and wallets.
Happy Thanksgiving Day 2009! We\'re still free, hallelujah! God-granting and soldiers willing to serve, we always will be.
Page Printed from: http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/11/blessed_with_freedom_thank_a_s.html at November 26, 2009 - 07:23:04 PM EST
(First Page) prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 next (Last Page)
